- Flexible bristles: Bristles should glide effortlessly through knots without pulling or snagging, ensuring a gentle detangling experience.
- Scalp comfort: Since detangling involves brushing from root to tip, softer bristles provide comfort while preventing irritation.
- Ideal size: The brush should be large enough to cover a wide surface area, yet compact enough to fit in a handbag for on-the-go touch-ups.
- Quality materials: High-end brushes use softer, more flexible bristles and a cushioned base, which reduces breakage by working with the hair and not against it.
- Durability: Premium brushes are built to last for years, and with proper care and maintenance, their lifespan can be extended even further.
How do you choose a detangling brush?
Ballance explains that his choice of detangling brush depends not only on hair texture and condition but also on personalized factors based on the client’s needs. “My go-to is always a brush designed for the specific texture I’m working with. For example, if I’m on set with a client who has already blow-dried hair, I’ll use a different detangling brush than I would in the salon on a client who has just been shampooed.”
Bataille adds that hair texture is a major consideration, as he always selects a brush suited for straight, wavy, curly, or coily hair. Hair type is equally important. For fine hair, softer, finer bristles help prevent breakage, while thicker or curlier textures require sturdier bristles that can handle volume without causing excessive pulling.
Hair condition also plays a key role. If the hair is damaged, a gentler brush is the best option to minimize breakage and stress on fragile strands. However, when working with thick, healthy, and well-conditioned hair, there’s more flexibility in choosing the right tool.
Is it better to detangle wet or dry?
It depends on your hair texture and condition. Wet hair has more elasticity, making it easier to glide through knots, but for damaged or fragile hair, excessive stretching can lead to breakage.
Ballance explains that if your hair is healthy or falls within the wavy to coily texture range, wet detangling allows for smoother combing without disrupting curl patterns. However, if your hair is fine or weak, detangling when dry is the better option, as dry hair is stronger and less prone to overstretching and breakage.
Meet the experts
- Castillo Bataille is a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles whose clients include Bella Thorne and Lauren Tsai.
- Davey Matthew is a celebrity hairstylist based in New York City whose clients have included Julia Fox and Amelia Gray.
- Marc Ballance is a celebrity hairstylist based in New York City whose clients include Nick Jonas, Sam Claflin, and Maisie Peters.
